Kayla Miller and Edna Magana can thank the Boys and Girls Clubs of Manteca / Lathrop for providing better understanding of their community.

Miller, who is a senior at Sierra High, was named the 2010 Youth of the Year for the Manteca club.

Ditto that for Magana. The Lathrop High freshman was announced as Lathrop’s Youth of the Year during the annual event held Thursday at Chez Shari at the Manteca Park Golf Course.

“I’m happy that I won but I don’t know how that happened,” Magana said.

She was selected over fellow finalists Michael Valencia and Angelica Martinez. In order to reach that point, they were recognized for taking part in the junior leadership program Torch Club, attending the club regularly for the past three years, and serving as positive role models.

Miller was picked over her best friend Megan Anderson along with Armancio Rosas and Aman Falol.

“This was a tough decision to make,” said Jon Cardoza, director of club operations.

But it was Miller who did plenty of community work including an Earth Day event in Stockton. As a member of Keystone – she along with Anderson and Rosas helped in bringing back the dynamic teen program of the Boys and Girls Club to Manteca – Miller approached local businesses, collecting about 100 blankets and money for food for dogs and cats in the animal shelter, Cardoza said.

Miller was thrilled to receive the club’s top award.

“This is a huge honor,” she said. “It’s through the Boys and Girls Club that I learned so much about the kids and the community.”

According to executive director Charlie Halford, the local Youth-of-the-Year winners are part of the process that includes regional, state, and national events.

Cardoza noted that those nominated were former members of the month.

“They were nominated by staff members and interviewed by our board of directors,” he added.

The local Boys and Girls Clubs are made up of about 1,200 members from Manteca and another 120 in Lathrop.

Those nominated for the awards were deemed “the cream of the crop,” said board president Bob Gonzales.

Other awards included:
• Junior Achievement – Saria Ames.

• Sportsmanship – Armancio Rosas (Manteca), Gabby Mascarinas (Lathrop).

• Martial Artist of the Year – Michael Erdman.

• Education and Career – Ernesto Martinez (Manteca).

• Sports and Fitness – Khalil Williams (Manteca).

• Social Recreation – Selena Lopez (Manteca), Alfonso Vera (Lathrop).

• Fine Arts – Rudy Perez (Manteca).

• Character and Leadership – Shaleena Nisha (Manteca).

• Athlete of the Year – Joey Valencia (Lathrop).

• Education Person – Arnulfo Ruiz (Lathrop).

• Artist of the Year – Michelle Romero (Lathrop).

• Torch Club – Alfonso Vera, Angelica Martinez.

This year’s Boys and Girls Club awards event was moved a few months early to the fall.